20,3 Schenck: Physiography and Geology of Samar 241 
The ports are little better than anchorages for ocean-going 
vessels, and are in no way protected from typhoons. The sea- 
coast towns, as would be expected, have attracted more trades- 
men and more people than have the isolated interior villages 
off the rivers. Furthermore, the people in the interior are kept 
at home by dangerous headwaters of rivers. The narrow San 
Juanico Strait, along a seismotectonic line, provides a means of 
water transportation between southwestern Samar and north- 
eastern Leyte; but the windy, rough, and treacherous San Ber- 
nardino Strait well isolates Samar from Luzon. Both land and 
water communications, therefore, are by no means favorable to 
the economic development of the island. 
Third—tThe agricultural lands, naturally, are the river valleys 
and narrow coastal plains. The interior can boast of little tillage, 
but one cannot blame physiography alone for that. There is 
entire lack of a large plain approaching that of the Luzon plain, 
‘so that it devolves upon the numerous smaller valleys to pro- 
duce whatever is raised. Much of the land is very fertile and 
simply awaits development, which to-day is fostered by the 
Schools; but the fact that there are extensive agricultural units 
has brought about almost a tribal relationship among the in- 
habitants, who cultivate in one place what little is needed for 
their own sustenance, and go to the forest for resin, honey, and 
wax. They do not grow any larger crops than seem necessary 
to meet their own needs. : 
Fourth.—The people of Samar, chiefly Visayans, are to some 
degree held down because of their environment. The natives 
are not fond of travel, and one can scarcely blame them! Carga- 
dores usually will go from one barrio to another only. Though 
in the majority of cases poor, the people are usually hospitable, 
and certainly are more amiable than we have been led to believe 
by some visitors among them. They know little of their own 
island and even less about the remainder of the Archipelago, 
but that is not particularly characteristic of them. The Pulajan 
religious fanatacism of the early days of the American occupa- 
tion was certainly not hindered by the nature of the terrane. 
Better communications will open a potentially rich agricultural 
Province and will aid in the education and unification of the 
People. 
To summarize: The physiography of Samar’ is, in many Ways, 
unlike that of Luzon and Leyte. Nearly all of this province 1s 
Maturely dissected; an igneous area is limited in extent, while 
limestone is abundant. Rivers, shallow and rocky, are extremely 
